Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

[faileas]

Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

I. Boaltinn (1st - 3rd) Boaltinn comes around again. A handful of Mirrorbound will remember the holiday from last year, but for others, it will be brand new. In both Residential Districts, bonfires burn in central locations through the night, frequented by the residents celebrating another summer come to Aefenglom. Curiously, while last year the bonfires seemed quite segregated by human or Monster, this year, there is more of a noticeable mix at each, and Mirrorbound are invited to join the games and festivities quite happily. Characters are invited to try and jump through the bonfire's flames to burn away any poor relationship experiences, be it romantic or platonic, past or present; to aid them in this, those at the Eastern Bonfire will give those participating rune-etched accessories to protect them from the fire. The city has quite a bit to offer for this holiday: shared rose baths at public bathhouses and pleasure establishments that increase feelings of friendliness and talkativeness, poles draped in ribbons meant to be danced around, wrapping a ribbon around the pole to bring good luck for the summer, food stalls whose offerings are meant to be shared, and fortune-telling set up by Divination students of the Coven, who can tell your day is going to go. To see last year's Boaltinn prompts, you can take a glance right here! Much of it, including the bonfires, baths, and entertainments will be similar this year, so feel free to use those in your top levels.

II. An Unusual Arrival (3rd on) A full year from the arrival of the first group of Mirrorbound, the 1st passes quietly, with no one showing up in the mirror-lined halls of the Looking-Glass House. Dates and times are important in most kinds of magic, and this is strange enough that some Witches of the Coven get together on the night of the 3rd to try a probing ritual, attempting to gather some kind of clues that could be useful in prying out the cottage's secrets. Boaltinn is the best time for such things, when the boundaries are thinner, and magic is stronger. Those who are awake that night at 3 am might notice a pulse of harmless silvery light that spreads like ripples on water throughout the whole city, originating at the Looking-Glass House, but nothing further happens, and the Coven receives no answers. Well, nothing happens in the Looking-Glass House. Before long, the reports start coming in: people are emerging from mirrors, regular old mundane mirrors, all over the city. Anything with a particularly reflective surface could be an entry point for someone from another world! Inhabited homes, businesses closed and locked for the night, pools of still water in fountains or the river, these unorthodox Mirrorbound pop up anywhere and everywhere, causing chaos for the City Guard (folks aren't happy to find strangers in their bathrooms at 3 in the morning) and the Coven both. Out of nowhere, a glint of light catches your eye; your heart thunders in your ears as your body moves on its own, your mind consumed with inspecting the source. Your reflection stares back at you, just as curious from the surface - a mirror, a pool of water, your most trusted sword, something fleeting that your mind can barely remember - then ripples at your touch. If you are one of these unfortunate arrivals, it's likely a rude awakening for you, to find yourself somewhere inconvenient, somewhere other than where you've been. It only makes sense to be confused. Hopefully someone finds you and explains to you what's happened to you. Resident Mirrorbound will hear a message from Miss Nessie shortly after it begins, a call to arms: "Dears, I'm quite sorry to disturb you, but it seems your fellows are arriving elsewhere than the Looking-Glass House this month! We're trying to track them all down for the usual welcome, but we could use a hand or several! If you could just bring them by the Coven, the usual spot, that would be lovely." She'll give her usual orientation and pass out Watches, but no doubt the Mirrorbound will be more helpful in this regard, with so many arriving.

III. The Goblin Market (All Month) Life goes on in Aefenglom, despite the addition of so many new residents. With the City Guard decidedly busy dealing with the sudden flood of break-ins (or, more accurately, break-outs?), the vendors of the Goblin Market find opportunity to set up their stalls more openly than they have since the crack-downs some months ago. They pop up all over the city, but clustered more often in the Residential Districts and the Harbor District, where there are even fewer law enforcement agents out and about to run them off. These sellers, while not as devoid of morals as those major players of the Black Market, still have very few compunctions when it comes to lying, cheating, fencing stolen goods, and misrepresenting their wares to unsuspecting buyers. It's also the place to find those things that are- not quite legal, shall we say. They won't say a word if you don't. If confronted, they are quick to pack up their things and slip away, however; they know this city and its hiding places a lot better than you do. With a brand new batch of what the natives assume are Mirrorbound, many undergoing rapid transformations into their Monster forms, many of the wares on display are potions: supposed cure-alls for aches and itches, calming draughts for the full moon restlessness, some even claim their brews can halt changes entirely! Some concoctions are meant to increase a Witch's magical ability, or decrease it, or provide them a finer control. They offer potions that they say will eliminate the need for a Bond, or temporary Bonding potions of their own that they claim are more pure, stronger, than the ones offered by the Coven. Claims are only claims, though. A few remedies for the pain of changing or some regular temporary Bonding potions can be found here and there, but for every potion that works, there are twenty more that have less than pleasant side effects. A brew that will cause everything you touch to turn to solid gold for up to an hour; a potion that will invert your sense of direction - trying to turn right will make you turn left, trying to go forward will cause you to walk backward; a potion that will remove all traction from your feet, causing you to slide around as if cobblestone are the slickest ice. Worse, some shadier vendors sell things more sinister, including a potion that gives you the appearance of being moderately to heavily infected by the Cwyld. Even if you don't drink any, the vendors are not at all careful where they're sloshing those bottles around, trying to show them off, and they all activate on skin contact.

IV. A Wilde Hunt (7th - 22nd) All Mirrorbound, temporary or not, are likely to feel it. Monsters are always affected by the full moons, but this month, it is more. Stronger. Instincts rise to the surface as the Sisters emerge full and visible in the night sky, and for many Mirrorbound, they are undergoing rapid transformations into whatever type of Monster they are meant to be. Curiously, the natives get along like they usually do, noticing nothing out of the norm, other than the increased agitation and restlessness from Mirrorbound Monsters. Monsters' aggression fades when the Sisters start to wane, but as the new moons approach on the 22nd, Mirrorbound Witches will notice their magical reserves overfilling, and will find themselves stricken with the overwhelming urge to use it, until casting spells, pushing one's magical limits, is almost a compulsion. Those who are not in proper Witch-Monster Bonds will feel it even stronger, with no stabilizing magic to consume (for Monsters) or avenues to expend magic (for Witches) other than casting spells. (For those who are interested, the Coven does offer temporary Bonding potions which can be used to help alleviate the effects somewhat.) The Coven Witches notice the signs, and they take decisive action on the morning of the 6th, the day before the full moons. So many Mirrorbound, likely to be so heavily affected by the lunar cycle this month, many of them coming into new features and abilities at a breakneck pace, only spells danger for the city. They barricade off a massive chunk of Wilde outside Aefenglom, largely free of Cwyld and totally bereft of farms, homes, and Wilder outposts. They invite anyone who feels the effects of the moons too strongly to control to come out for a Hunt. The hunting grounds will be open nightly to anyone who needs to work off restless energy or overflowing magic; all participants will be warned that their safety cannot be guaranteed from others, but they won't be able to harm bystanders out here. The woods are thick, with the river cutting through them, and full of wildlife. There is room to run and chase prey, or room to play with your developing magic. Play cat and mouse with your friends or Bondmates, or stalk a stranger. If playing games isn't your thing, there is something else to hunt out here as well. With the deep Wilde entering into Winter, this patch of land so close to the city is much warmer, and fearsome Shades have emerged to search for prey. These were once living beings, Monsters, Witches, or animals, who have been overtaken by Cwyld infection long ago, leaving them dead but for the infection, white-eyed and seeking out sources of magic to consume and infect. Anything could become a Shade, but the most common out right now are the ferocious remains of bears, wolves, and nomadic Arachne and Turnskins. If not killed, these Shades threaten the people of the Outer City, when they inevitably escape the barricade. Careful to limit your contact, though; anyone infected upon their return to the gates will be escorted straight to the infirmary.

Welcome to May's Fourth Wall event, An Inauspicious Arrival! The comms are now open to comments from all registered users and will be until June 1st. Current players, if you don't want fourth wall characters tagging your posts, just say so in your text. Fourth wall characters can use this post for their own network top-levels, or this post for log top levels. This event is game canon; threads from this fourth wall can be used as application samples later and current players may use these threads for AC. As always, be courteous to each other! Let the mod team know if there are any problems and we will handle things.

As always, please direct your questions to this thread!

Comments

[rootstalks]

[ Her manner thaws somewhat when he starts giving genuine instructions, and she follows his gaze to the lighthouse. ]

Near that signal tower?

[ It seems odd that a market with little to no legitimate goods is so full. She looks around again, slightly dissatisfied. ] Why is such a market encouraged..?

[electrod]

[ He shakes his head and just waves the arm— to the left of the tower. That's an actual, real direction given. It's her second question he answers with actual words ]

Because someone is being paid to not raid and close it just yet. [ That's what he assumes with a wide shrug. Illegal activities in the broad daylight usually come from some higher-up either not caring enough, or being "convinced" to not ]

[rootstalks]

[ It's a pity, a legitimate market this size full of minor wonders would be a sight to see. But she has her directions. ]

I see. Thank you, ah... I'm sorry, what should I call you?

[electrod]

Does it matter? It's unlikely we meet again. [ And he's not the sort to get his name out there by doing people favours. He's not interested in getting his name out there period.

But he is also bored so with a tilt of head, and a drawled amused tone just asks ]

—or is this your way of asking me to be your guide?

[rootstalks]

I wouldn't dare presume. [ She smiles, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. ]

It's a pity, but I'll respect your wishes. My given name is Yanli, family name Jiang, young madam of the Jin clan of Lanling. I hope we meet again, so that I can learn yours.

[electrod]

[ Okay, that's— a scary lady smile. But she just bumped on the "proper lady" ladder to "actual old blood nobility stuff". Naturally, she looked the part, but he knows better than to judge people by just their looks. They can be misleading, fabricated. In a way she's reminding him of someone...

There's a small pause as he changes his balance from one leg to another, not even hiding that he's intrigued ]

Name's Reno. And you don't have to presume, I was offering. [ Look, he's bored anyway. And he dropped "sugar", progress ] Streets are more dangerous than they seem.

chris pspspspspsps

[rootstalks]

[ Her expression shifts more genuine... but also a little amused. And grateful - it's a heady mix that lights up her face. ]

I see! Then I'll thank you in advance, Reno. My husband should be here soon, and we'll gladly take you up on your offer.

[ And he should be nearby... ]

[disasterstraight]

[ Oh, look! Here he is! Striding onto the scene with a confidence in his step that hides how lost he is in this foreign city.

He spots Yanli through the crowd, speaking with a complete and total stranger. Unaccompanied. No, that won't do. ]

There you are. This market is far too crowded. I thought I had lost you.

[rootstalks]

Mm, apparently this is the wrong market. [ Which explains the trouble they've been having... she hopes he hasn't gotten into too many altercations. She looks him over briefly, but everything seems fine.

She subtly reaches over and tweaks the fold of his sleeve so it falls properly. There, perfect. ]

Zixuan, this is Reno. He's kindly offered to show me the way to the shopping district.

[electrod]

[ Husband? Well, well... interesting. When the peacock harpy appears, there's a twinge of instinct, one that he's not exactly familiar with. The man has barely spoken and there's an urge to spread wings and posture aggressively— it's not even his own turf, what the fuck, bird-brain.

But Reno is a consummate professional, his gaze may turn sharp, smile a bit predatory with a hint of sharp teeth, but he makes no move and remains perfectly cordial as he speaks ]

It's not far from here— keep in mind that this market here is an illegal gathering. Better double-check any goods you bought here. They might have... unexpected side effects.

[ And he turns unhurriedly and saunters in the direction of the less crowded route.

The way he sees it— they got 0 connections here, no network, no secure way of information gathering. Frankly speaking, they're ridiculously out of their depth. But for a seasoned Turk, a mission of being dropped in a middle-of-fucking-nowhere and establishing a convincing cover-identity to sit down for three months, waiting for the sign to act? Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

And the thing with being nice sometimes not only helps in establishing the connections, but it means people owe you favour to collect later. One of the oldest currencies. ]

[disasterstraight]

[ Reno, huh? Zixuan looks the stranger up and down, blatantly judging him on everything visible. His attire, his posture, the way he speaks. All of this gets noted and weighs in Zixuan's mind.

Just what kind of company is his wife keeping when he's not around?

But, his warning is at least in their favor, so Reno is deemed acceptible for now. ]

Good thing I didn't purchase anything, then.

[ He'd thought about buying one of those potions advertised as a miracle cure the other day, but now that Yanli is here, there's no need. Their bond will support them well enough.

He gestures for Yanli to follow Reno, before bringing up the rear himself. Best to keep her between them so that if any unsavory types should approach, either Reno or himself can fend them off. ...Not that he necessarily trusts Reno to do so sufficiently, but still. From the back, he can keep a close eye on their new companion. ]

[rootstalks]

[ She was banking on that as well, after hearing about the bond. It's reassuring to know that she can still support him deprived of the resources of home.

The fact that both men seem to be feathered to some degree - and the moment of tension as they take each others' measure - has her glancing between them as they walk. Alert, maybe, for a need for adjudication. Being used to doing so when accompanying her brothers, it doesn't slow her in the slightest. Neither does being herded into the middle of a group of three.

Habitually, she finds herself making conversation. As she skirts around a seller whose stall has spilled out into the concourse: ]

Why do the tools here have unexpected side-effects, have you heard? [ If she's to learn to make anything like them, she'd prefer to avoid inflicting her mistakes on her family. ]

[electrod]

[ There is a lot to judge about Reno, he's fashion disheveled on his best day, as if he never grew out of the rebellious phase. The addition of harpy changes doesn't help that, if anything, with feathers, starting to stick out of his neck, it makes his hair look even more like a mess.

Nevertheless, he is obviously used to bodyguard job (he protected president himself, he got this) and expertly navigate the crowds, not shying from pushing few people out of their way. Effectively creating (and guarding) space for Yanli and Zixuan. ]

They're probably from unchecked sources, stolen— [ He's mostly extrapolating on what he knows from home (ah the wonder drugs you could buy in slums' hidden markets, will cure your ailments and cure you of your wallet) and from few interesting experiences here ] —or just forbidden.

[ He gestures at a crude stand, advertising itself as relax'n'seduction potions and speaks loud enough so its customers could hear ]

These will either knock you out or make you painfully horny in a not-fun way for hours!

[ Maybe there's a reason why he's pettily ruining business here. Maybe ]

[disasterstraight]

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